First off, my apologies for the delay. 2021 has brought a lot of opportunities for me that it took me away from the blog. I'm currently on three committees that are absolutely awesome, but very time-consuming. However, it exposes me to great (& not so great) stories that I couldn't wait to share. One of those great stories was Chlorine Sky by Mahogany L. Browne. This novel-in-verse left a deep impact on me that made me have in-depth conversation while asking the following: What happens when we outgrow a friendship? More important, what does it mean to actually be a friend? That's what Skyy, our narrator, discovers as she guides us through her journey of self-discovery and self-love. She has been close to her best friend, Lay Li, since childhood. They would hang out at the local pool, and Skyy would play basketball as Lay Li watches. However, as they grow older, their paths begin to separate. Skyy wants to maintain her friendship, while Lay Li wants to make her presence known and have a new circle of popular friends. This includes teasing and bullying Skyy, a habit she shares with Skyy's older sister, Essa. They talk down to her and treat her as if she is of no value. Some friend, huh? The only person who genuinely cares for Sky is her cousin, Inga. Inga defends Skyy against her sister and wants Skyy to know her self-worth. Even if it means cutting loose someone who was important to you for so long. I related to this story in so many ways, that I felt it was my story being told. I have an older sister who I cut ties with after decades of abuse and cruelty, and even separated myself from "friends" who definitely did not have my best interests at heart. Sometimes you have to do what's right for your own physical and mental wellbeing. When Skyy falls in love and meets new people, she begins to see her self-worth. In addition, she realizes that she deserves to be happy with who she is, not by what other people think who she should be. I would definitely put this book in my teens' hands. Being a teenager is hard and you begin to see that friendships and your view of the world begin to change. Even as Sky deals with some heartbreaking situations, it's refreshing to see her not only discover her worth, but find people who truly value her for the person she is. Inga shares an important piece of advice that everyone should heed: never dim your light just so someone else can shine bright. We are all special in our own way. Why force ourselves to hide for someone to feel better about themselves? I give Chlorine Sky a 4.5 out of 5. It's a very important book that all ages should read. As author Nic Stone said in her praise of the story, "the most revolutionary thing a girl can do is be herself." And we should be able to do that, without question or fear.
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Who am I?The Library Lady is a Young Adult Librarian and reviewer. She's also a music, anime, and film nerd. Archives
January 2024
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